Thursday, August 21, 2008
Eric Menk, Ronald Tubid Lifts Ginebra in Game 7 Finals to Win Championship
What more can be sweeter than winning a battle knowing that you lack and lose some of your best weapons and artilleries along the way? Maybe that's exactly what goes on to Barangay Ginebra Kings coach Jong Uichico's mind after their troops bag the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Championship.
Barangay Ginebra wrapped up the best-of-seven finals series by beating the Air21 Express, 97-84 in Game 7 of the finals.
After losing Best Player of the Conference Jayjay Helterbrand in Game 2 due to injury, several others followed suit but were able to play hurt including heavy scorer Mark Caguioa.
Barangay Ginebra controlled most of the quarters but eventually yield the led to the Express in the middle of the fourth quarter as Junthy Valenzuela hurt his knee and Chris Alexander limping in cramps. He was able to return to the hardcourt though.
Stepping up to the challenge for the Kings are Finals co-MVP Eric Menk and Ronlad Tubid who provided the needed offensive lift when the Fast and the Furious combo were missing in action.
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BARANGAY GINEBRA BACK ON THE THRONE
Record crowd of 22,902 witness Kings’ coronation; Menk & Tubid Finals MVP
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Rising above tough challenge and extreme adversities, the Barangay Ginebra Kings are back on the throne, once again reigning supreme in the import-reinforced PBA basketball tourney.
Ginebra completed an epic basketball triumph while handicapped by injuries, waylaying Airr21, 97-84, Wednesday night to bag the 2007-08 Smart Fiesta Conference before a delirious record-breaking crowd of 22,902 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The walking wounded of coach Jong Uichico survived an acid test, overcoming a 2-3 deficit in the best-of-seven basketball series to reclaim the crown they won in 2004.
It's Ginebra's eighth basketball championship in all but this one should rank among the best, considering the trials and adversities gone through by coach Jong Uichico and the brave Ginebra gang.
"Every basketball championship means a lot whether it's your first, second, third or what. But this one is really special. It's hard to explain how we won the basketball series with all the injuries and tough challenges we faced," said Uichico, winning a second crown in four basketball conferences with the basketball club before a crowd never seen since the glory days of Crispa and Toyota in the league’s early years.
"The players deserve all the credit for not giving up. We could have easily given up when we lost Jayjay (Helterbrand). We could have easily given up when Mark Caguioa got injured. And we could have easily given up when the others also got hurt. But the players didn't," Uichico also said.
With practically everybody already playing with aches and pains, Tubid and Menk seized the moment and led the basketball team to the epic win. The two were rewarded by being named Finals co-MVPs.
"Eric (Menk) has just redeemed himself. Tubid, meanwhile, really showed a big fighting heart as he returned to play in the basketball series straight from injury. Bumalik sya noong kailangang-kailangan namin siya. Bumalik sya ng walang practice," said Uichico.
Menk, defying Father Time, and Tubid, sidelined for six weeks by a dislocated ankle, combined for 43 points and 17 rebounds in the winner-take-all basketball contest.
Chris Alexander, the tournament Best Import, was saddled by early fouls but still played a key role, finishing the basketball contest with 19 rebounds, 16 points, four blocks, one assist and one steal.
"It was a gamble on my part to keep him on the basketball gamme despite five fouls. What I wanted was for him to make it tougher for Steve Thomas to score. Kung locals, madaling-madali para kay Thomas umiskor," said Uichico.
As it turned out, the Kings held the entire Airr21 team scoreless in the last 4:27 of play.
"My players have matured. Still, they were not yet ready to face the impact of what the Ginebra crowd brought to the basketball gamme," said Airr21 basketball coach Bo Perasol.
The injury bug hit Ginebra up to the final basketball gamme of the basketball series with Junthy Valenzuela hurting his left leg in the third quarter.
Valenzuela wasn't able to return but the Kings didn't waver.
Earlier, the Kings pounced on the Exprress at the posts with Alexander and Menk combining for 18 points as Ginebra took the half at 49-46.
The Ginebra gang could have established full control right in the opening half if not for an atrocious 12-of-23 free-throw shooting against Airr21's 4-of-4 perfect clip.
Though badly beaten in rebounding, the Exprress kept the gamme close also with a better three-point shooting. Gary David, Arwind Santos, Nino Canaleta, Ranidel De Ocampo and Marvin Cruz combined for six triples with the Kings accounting for only three.
After the Kings built their biggest lead in the first half at 28-21, De Ocampo and Santos fired a three-pointer each in an 11-4 salvo that tied the count at 32-all midway through the second period.
The two teams engaged in a fiery exchange until Valenzuela beat the buzzer with a floater, giving the Kings a three-point lead at the turn.
Tubid was the lone Ginebra player who did well from the charity lane in the first half, knocking in all of his five charities. He provided Ginebra instant offense coming off the bench, leading the team with 12 points in the first 24 minutes of basketball play.
Santos led all scorers with 13 points in the opening half marred by three technical infractions.
Getting possession after the opening tip, Caguioa quickly brought the ball down court and dished off an assist to Paul Artadi for the first basket of the contest. (NC)
The scores:
Ginebra 97 – Tubid 22, Menk 21, Alexander 16, Caguioa 13, Valenzuela 10, Artadi 8, Crisano 4, Pacana 3, Mamaril 0, Salvacion 0, Reavis 0.
Air21 84 – Thomas 24, Santos 19, David 18, Canaleta 8, Billones 6, De Ocampo 5, Cruz 3, Arboleda 1, Kramer 0, Intal 0, Espinas 0, Sotto 0, Se 0.
Quarterscores: 26-21, 49-46, 72-63, 97-84.
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